The Timeline and Headlines of ‘09

In the Canadian golf industry, it’s difficult to pinpoint one story of the year as other media outlets do at this time of year.

The golf industry has many different special interests, depending on which segment in which you circulate. After yesterday’s blog about some of the names that made headlines, here’s a look at the headlines and timelines of the 2009 season.

We use this as a guide to encourage readers to go back into our archives to check out some of the stories from the past year as GNN takes a two-week break over the holidays, beginning on Friday. Of course, we will be on call if any urgent breaking stories occur during that time.

So here’s a look at some of the headlines that appeared in 2009 in chronological order:

PING begins celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding by the legendary Karsten Solheim … Executives and employees of ClubLink Corporation are charged after a fatal 2008 car accident claimed the lives of three young people following a night of drinking at the Lake Joseph Club near Bracebridge, Ont. … RBC announces it will sponsor the Stephen Ames Cup, a Ryder Cup format for juniors from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago … The Mike Weir Foundation is announced as the charitable partner for the RBC Canadian Open and that a new event, the Mike Weir Classic, will take place the week of the tournament. It’s eventually attended by actor Kevin Costner and former NBA star Michael Jordan … RBC also announces that PGA Tour star Anthony Kim will carry an RBC bag and be part of its advertising and marketing efforts in the United States.

Callaway Golf Canada introduces a new custom-fitting facility at ClubLink’s DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Ont., with former WWE wrestler Trish Stratus … Canadian PGA launches a new radio talk show … Callaway Golf announces Perry Ellis will design, manufacture and distribute its apparel in Canada, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean … The Club at Bond Head in Bond Head, Ont., announces it has entered into a 21-year lease with ClubLink Corporation to become one of its daily fee golf clubs …Jazz Golf is acquired in an assets-only deal by Toronto-based Goliath Golf, which also announces that it will distribute Rife putters in Canada.

Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club is announced as the site of the 2011 RBC Canadian Open … The Canadian Tour is forced to exit from Mexico after concerns about swine flu in that country. Postponed tournaments to be played in the fall … Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club named the site of the 2010 CN Canadian Women’s Open … Golf Town recognized by the Retail Council of Canada for its retail marketing and advertising … Canadian Tour becomes a full-fledged member of the International Federation of PGA Tours … Tournament Sports discontinues its licence to distribute Tour Edge products in Canada. Golf Trends announced as the new distributor.

Caulfeild Apparel becomes Canadian distributor for Abacus apparel … Ray Stewart of Abbotsford, B.C., wins the Canadian PGA Senior title in Ottawa … B.C. fires burn out of control in parts of the province … After rain delays force a Monday finish at Glen Abbey, former Canadian Tour player Nathan Green wins the RBC Canadian Open in a two-hole playoff with Retief Goosen … John Rushnell of Black Diamond Golf Club in Peterborough, Ont., and Gar Hamilton of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., qualify to play in the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick in Indiana … Sunice establishes a corporation to sell its outerwear in the United States … Oakville’s Jessica Shepley wins the Canadian PGA Women’s Championship.

The National Allied Golf Association unveils the findings of its economic impact study, showing positive results for the game. One disturbing finding was a decrease of as much as 10 per cent in golf participation in 2008 … Norway’s Suzanne Pettersen wins CN Canadian Women’s Open at Priddis Greens near Calgary … GNN celebrates its first anniversary on Sept. 15 … Nacabi Trading Inc. acquires Tehama, which was founded in 1997 by Nancy Haley and Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood. Nacabi includes two Canadians in chief executive officer Steven Banks and president Gord Peters … Matt Palsanbarg of Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, B.C., wins Canadian PGA Assistants Championship.

Greenscape Capital Group announces its intention of an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Greenscape includes Vancouver-based apparel company Lela … Sunice will outfit more than 2,200 people as a supplier of uniform apparel for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium at the 2010 Games … Golf receives final approval from the International Olympic Committee for play starting in 2016 … Ontario wins the Titleist Cup against Quebec for the first time in 15 years … Reed Exhibitions announces that it is scaling back its Canadian operation and will run the Ontario PGA trade show out of its headquarters in Norwalk, Ct. … Islington Golf Club in Toronto will serve as the practice facility for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open being played at nearby St. George’s Golf and Country Club.

Golf Town announces it has created a national amateur series and will be a presenting sponsor of the Great Lakes Tour … Charges are withdrawn against 11 people named in the original charges against ClubLink earlier in the year … The United States Golf Association agrees to allow the sale of TP xFT wedges with exchangeable face technology after an appeal by TaylorMade … The LPGA Tour recognizes the CN Canadian Women’s Open for its promotion, marketing and advertising … Ben Boudreau wins Titleist and FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professionals Championship in a playoff against Jeff Buder of Vancouver in Port St. Lucie, Fla. … ClubLink announces a 10-year agreement worth $4-million in cash and use of its facilities for Royal Canadian Golf Association programs. ClubLink president and chief executive officer Rai Sahi hints at expansion beyond Ontario and Quebec … Canadian PGA short-lists candidates and begins interviewing for executive director post left vacant after the departure of Steve Carroll … Newly-formed Puma Golf North America names Canadian Ted Fletcher of the Mint Green Group as its president.

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